Regulars
A hard-fought battle, in which all Britons took part, was waged to keep the lights on and the home fires burning – but did it prove victorious?
BLACK GOLD – THIS 5IN X 3IN POLISHED LUMP OF 300 MILLION-YEAR-OLD ANTHRACITE COAL HAS THE LETTER ‘V’ (FOR VICTORY), WITH ITS MORSE CODE SYMBOL AND THE ENGRAVED DATE ‘1942’. POSSIBLY MADE BY AN OFF-DUTY MINER, THIS UNUSUAL SOUVENIR IS A POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE BATTLE FOR FUEL. VERY RARE, £100
ALL IMAGES VIA THE AUTHOR UNLESS STATED
Not all the important battles of World War Two were fought above ground by soldiers on a battlefield. At home, civilian men also struggled in grim and dangerous conditions underground. On average, around 900 a year died in accidents.
Their mission, the reason for their sacrifice, was to feed the war effort and ensure Britain’s victory.
